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Small Cabin Forum / Cabin Construction / Water Pump Question
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hitanktank
Member
# Posted: 20 Nov 2012 21:46
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Lets say a person has a barrel of water and wants to pump it occasionally into something inside the cabin but has no electricity. Is there such a thing as a battery operated water pump for this? If so, any links? Thanks

MtnDon
Member
# Posted: 20 Nov 2012 22:01 - Edited by: MtnDon
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Would there be any 12 volt power available? Like from an automotive battery?

We have one of these Inline Rule pumps. It's slow but there are higher capacity models. Also 24 VDC models. Pumps use lots of power compared to a light so it's not likely to be able to power a pump off smaller batteries very well.

It pushes water much better than lifting by suction. Ours resides in the bottom of a buried cistern and pushes water into the water tank under the kitchen counter. There's no foot valve so it drains back which I wanted. At maximum height (about 20 feet IIRC) the flow is very low.

hitanktank
Member
# Posted: 20 Nov 2012 22:04
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ya I can make a battery available
Im just learning about this stuff so I am open to suggestions

beachman
Member
# Posted: 1 Dec 2012 14:29
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Check out West Marine, they have some great 12v pump options. I bought one of their 12v pumps with the expansion tank attached and a self on/off switch to regulate pressure. Works great. I used 1/2" pex tubing - not pipe, hooked into the various fixtures.

hitanktank
Member
# Posted: 1 Dec 2012 14:56
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thanks beachman thats a fantastic idea

hitanktank
Member
# Posted: 1 Dec 2012 15:01 - Edited by: hitanktank
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As usual with me just learning I have questions. Now if I hook up the 12v pump to take the water from the barrel and run the pex tubing into fixtures i want, does that mean whenever I want water I have to run outside to the barrel and switch this pump on?

Sorry if its a silly question, just learning and all.

Thanks

edit: found this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwLtFXET0Zo
its gold--perfect and will be hooked to deep cycle battery

rayyy
Member
# Posted: 1 Dec 2012 15:36
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Iv'e used 12 volt pumps ordered from J C Whitney's R V section.(Jetflo)brand.They are what most campers and rv's use.Simple to hook up.They can draw water up about 8 or 10 feet.They shut off automaticly when the faucet is closed.It givesd about 1 1/2 gallons a minute.It's just as good as city water pressure.For sinks and showers,it's fine.

VC_fan
Member
# Posted: 1 Dec 2012 17:37
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Ravvy's describing what's called a "demand" pump. When a faucet is opened to let water flow, the pressure in the system drops and there's a pressure switch on the pump to make it come on. Excellent choice. There are also 12V pumps which are not demand pumps - these aren't nearly as easy to design a system around. Shurflo is another popular brand and the one I used until I let water freeze in the diaphragms

SE Ohio
Member
# Posted: 2 Dec 2012 08:50
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Low-tech non-electric pump version would be to use a pitcher pump, drinking water quality is available from Lowe's for ~$50 (US). Harbor Freight has a non-drinking water version for about half that. I have these affixed to the tops of my rain barrels, but one could run pipes to use one indoors. Freeze precautions apply if you run piping.

I have a 12 volt "barrel" pump with small diameter that can insert through the standard 55 gallon barrel opening. It is set up with tubing to a shower head, and electrically connect via switch to battery. We heat up a metal water tank and use this for a hot shower (keeps the wife coming back to the cabin)

SE Ohio
Member
# Posted: 2 Dec 2012 09:14
Reply 


Low-tech non-electric pump version would be to use a pitcher pump, drinking water quality is available from Lowe's for ~$50 (US). Harbor Freight has a non-drinking water version for about half that. I have these affixed to the tops of my rain barrels, but one could run pipes to use one indoors. Freeze precautions apply if you run piping.

I have a 12 volt "barrel" pump with small diameter that can insert through the standard 55 gallon barrel opening. It is set up with tubing to a shower head, and electrically connect via switch to battery. We heat up a metal water tank and use this for a hot shower (keeps the wife coming back to the cabin)
Rain barrel with pitcher pump
Rain barrel with pitcher pump


jcorrigan
Member
# Posted: 7 Mar 2013 11:24
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I may be jumping in too late but Rayyy is right on the money. I have a ShurFlo marine pump from West Marine and it works great. Hooked into the 12V DC solar bank it runs water into the outdoor shower as well as the faucets inside my cabin without running outside to turn it on.

Couple things you may want to keep in mind though as I found out: If your current water system has been gravity fed and you put some pressure behind it you're going to find out VERY quickly where your plumbing is lacking. Also, if you find you've got pump 'chatter' going on (I.E. pump turns off and on periodically) then you've got a leak. Most likely this leak will be in the most inaccessible place imaginable and in a space that only a childs hands can get into

You may want to make sure you put some kind of filter on the incoming valve as well to screen out larger particles to make your pump last longer. Good luck!

rayyy
Member
# Posted: 8 Mar 2013 21:15
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I have a sureflo 12 volt pump on my set up.When you open a faucet handle,the pressure drop's kick's on the pump which pumps you water at about 30 psi.Close the faucet,pressure builds up,pump shuts off.Work's great for me.No diaphram tank or anything.

mjmmessina
Member
# Posted: 12 Mar 2013 08:08
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rayyy, do you know if they make a 110V model of your pump? I was looking to build a cistern type water system for my remote cabin.

rayyy
Member
# Posted: 12 Mar 2013 16:53
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I don't know,MJ.I have alway's used these 12 volt pumps for my campers and at my cabin set up on a battery and a conventional 12 volt charger.I have used a standard 6" submersable sump pump (110 volt) in a 14 foot deep well casing to pump water out into a water troff through a garden hose.

squirrel
Member
# Posted: 12 Mar 2013 18:37
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what about this kind of pump ZODI Outback Gear Battery Powered Shower i am starting my own water system and I also am without power and was wondering if anyone has used this kind thought if it ll work for the time being til i get a better system

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